The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is proposing to amend the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations by eliminating the requirement for operational brakes on the last saddle-mounted truck or tractor in a triple saddle-mount combination, except when a full mount is present. The proposal is in response to a petition for rulemaking from the Automobile Carriers Conference of the American Trucking Associations.
Currently, the FMCSRs require operational brakes on any wheel of a saddle-mounted vehicle that is in contact with the roadway. ACC contends that this requirement degrades the braking performance of these combinations because the lightly loaded axle of the last vehicle tends to lock up under heavy braking, and the group submitted test results supporting this position.
To comment on this proposal, go to www.regulations.gov; the Docket ID number is FMCSA-2010-0271.
